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BRODY, SIDNEY IRVING : 1932, 1934 and 1935 ORIGINAL ARCHIVE OF MANUSCRIPT DIARIES INTIMATELY REVEALING THE EARLY FORMATIVE HIGH SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY YEARS OF A JEWISH BOY WHO WILL BECOME A HEROIC MAN OF MANY FIRSTS: NAVAL CAPTAIN, FLIGHT SURGEON, TEST PILOT AND MUCH MORE

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer is an amazing archive of three [3] original manuscript diaries [1932, 1934 and 1935] handwritten by Sidney Irving Brody, future medical doctor, Naval Captain, flight surgeon and the first commanding officer at the Naval Hospital at Quonset Point. Sidney was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [Extensive biographic notes follow the description.] The first diary was written during his senior year at Northeast High School where he was an excellent student. The other two diaries were written while he was attending the University of Pennsylvania with the latter written during the author's senior year at U of P, and he wrote of taking an aptitude test for a medical career and making application to medical school. He eventually graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia. This diary is a stand out for a number of reasons. On the one hand this is a truly unique study in the beginnings of a young man's adulthood with a considerable future ahead of him that will require him to perform great physical and emotional feats. The author reveals himself intimately expressing his feeling and even base desires. Researchers and historians of men's studies or gender studies of this era will be appreciative of the opportunity to see his psyche revealed even before he ever began his studies of medicine [we do note however that Sidney studied anatomy and chemistry in relation to the opposite sex with gusto and successfully so it seems.] It really is quite unique to read a young man so expressive in a diary. The 1932 book is quite full, and there is an entry for every day. He wrote about his daily activities, both school and social. He was an avid tennis player, and included in this lot is a framed Tennis Team award. His father bought him a car in his senior year of high school, and while attending college, the author lived at home. In the summer, he was a camp counselor, and also traveled to NYC and Atlantic City, where his family vacationed each year. Dr. Brody was very interested in all sports and wrote about meeting some baseball greats: April 13."Babe" Ruth and his wife came to school today. We gave him a cup April 19."Mickey" Cochrane came up to school today. Interviewed him. He gave a nice talk Jun 19.Got up early and went to school. The St Louis Cards were there. Met them." He had many girlfriends throughout these years, and seemed to put them in two categories - those he took on formal dates and treated with the utmost respect, and those that he either picked up in his car or those that would "neck": Jan 24, 1932 Got up late and lounged around. Went down to the library about 4:00. After supper went over to Stan's. Took Rochelle to Beth Sholom dance. Was pretty nice. She seemed to take more interest in the other guys. I guess I'll take someone else out next time I go out. Feb 1 Arose late as usual - lounged around in the afternoon. Today was Rochelle's 17 th birthday and I had the extreme honor of taking her out. Bought her an expensive box of candy and we went out with Milt and Eleanor. Went to the State and the Golden Gate. Spent a lot of money tonight. Had a nice time. Sep 21 Drove Stan to the doctor. Then we went to Ethel Horvanti's where I saw Adelle. I then painted the fenders and lights on my car. At night I went over Cooper's where the gang was. Walked Rochelle home. Sat and talked to her. She said that she thought she was in love with me !!! Believe it or not !!!!! Dec 31 Went over to Rochelle's in the afternoon. Had it out with her. Then went to Ruth Koppenheim's. Wright took Rochelle to Harry Grossman's affair at the Ben Franklin. Kissed Rochelle for the first time in over a year. Got in at 9:30, Had a swell time. July 30 Got up at a reasonable hour. Then went to Dittenfast and played tennis with Mort. Had a nice match. After supper at Mort's, we went around trying to pick up some broads. Cruised around the whole city including Woodside. Finally got two near home. Took them for a ride and got a good feel. Aug 5 Arose late and sent over to Rochelle's for about an hour with Lena. Left and drove her to get her bathing suit. After supper, took family for a ride. Then got Mort and we took the Germantown girls for a ride. Got a good feel and was stopped for driving one handed. May get a summons." A couple of times, the author described his sexual experience in clinical terms, once adding he didn't have a very good time. He also wrote of problems with girls: "Aug 24 Up early. Was Bernice's birthday. Went over Ruth Koppenheims with Stan, Rochelle and Audrey. Audrey fainted on account of Stan not loving her. At night, called for Rochelle and Audrey at the Colby theater. Went up to Rochelle's apartment. Audrey tried to take iodine and commit suicide (the dope) because Stan didn't love her. He had to do some tall convincing to get her to believe him. Took them for a ride. Dec 25 Lounged around in the afternoon. Had the family and friends over for dinner. At night, took Mimi to RI (?). Rochelle was was there and I had my hands full." Although the author wrote much about his experiences with girls, social activities, parties etc., he approached adulthood with a sense of purpose in both his education and his path towards becoming a doctor. He often wrote about someone named Martin in the diaries. Martin must have been a physician, as the author occasionally wrote of going to Philadelphia General with Martin. He once observed an autopsy, and wrote of assisting in a couple of very minor surgeries. Martin seemed to have an influence on the author's decision to become a doctor: "Apr 6 Nothing much doing in school. After school, went with Harry Green to Convention Hall. Saw General Motors exhibit. Went in Phila General Hospital and saw Martin. Went all around Psychopathic department. Ate supper with him in the hospital. He then gave me material for talk. Came home and did lessons. Aug 11 Got up slightly late. Rochelle called up so I went over there. Stayed there all afternoon. At night, got Mort and went over to Rochelle's. Went for a ride and stopped at Kemmer's. Came home and Uncle Steve and Martin and all the girls were here. Took them home. Martin showed me his place at the Hospital. It's swell. Mar 17 Arose pretty early and went to the Philadelphia General Hospital. Saw an autopsy. Apr 20 After school went over to Martin's. We then went to the Phila Gen Hospital and I made the rounds with him. Attended a conference led by Dr. Robinson." Sidney Irving Brody went on to graduate from the Hahnemann Medical College in 1941, He was affiliated with the Frankford Hospital in Philadelphia. The three diaries are all hardcover, one is a Wanamaker, the other two are slightly larger at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and both cover are attached but have detached from the spine on the front hinge. All three diaries have an entry for everyday of the year. Overall VG. BIO NOTES: Obituary: Sidney Brody, 1st commanding officer of Quonset Naval Hospital, dies at 96. Capt. Sidney I. Brody, the first commanding officer of the Naval Hospital at Quonset Point and the first physician to pilot a Navy jet and land on an aircraft carrier, died Saturday at his home in Brookline, Mass., at the age of 96. A native of Philadelphia and the husband of the former Muriel Myers to whom he was married 69 years, Brody was a pioneer in the field of aerospace medicine. When the Navy developed its F-9 jet, he was the first to take it to an altitude of 60,000 feet. Commissioned a Navy lieutenant junior grade in the Navy Medical Corps in 1942, Brody worked as a Navy flight surgeon in several venues including China and the Philippines when he developed his interest in flying, according to his wife. By 1947, he had undergone training as a naval aviator and became the medical officer for Carrier Air Group 4, serving aboard the aircraft carrier Franklin D. Roosevelt. After becoming a physician and test pilot, he served as a liaison to the Naval Bureau of Aeronautics and the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, and, in the early 1950s, was part of team that developed the first pressurized flight suit for pilots for high-altitude flights. Brody eventually became the first senior medical officer aboard the Saratoga. Then, influenced by President John F. Kennedy's physician, Janet Travell, he developed innovative treatments for myofascial pain, discovering that sore throat pain often originates in the neck muscles. In 1966, he became the first commanding officer at the Naval Hospital at Quonset Point, continuing there until his retirement as a Navy captain in 1970. It was then that he moved to Cumberland, where he continued to practice internal medicine for 28 years, focusing on chronic pain and immune disorders. He also taught for a short time at Brown Medical School and made rounds at Rhode Island Hospital. Burial with military honors in B'nai Israel cemetery.. Book Condition: Very Good

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